Carmel-by-the-Sea

Took a day trip down to Carmel (link here) to enjoy the food and shops along Ocean Avenue, including an afternoon tea at The Tuck Box (link here and here). The torrential rainstorm up and down the Monterey Peninsula that day gave the scenery a surreal, almost dreamlike quality. This was especially true during a stop along the 17-Mile Drive (link here) near the dramatic Par 3 5th Hole at Spyglass Hill that sits atop the sea cliff and is bifurcated by a cove where the violent waves of the Pacific Ocean crash below. The blend of strong winds, blinding rain, blanketing fog, and rugged, coastal beauty are reminiscent of the picture book coasts of Scotland; no wonder golf is considered their other national religion.